Flooding possible on county rivers

EVERETT — December isn’t wasting any time leaving a wintry impression.

Wet and windy weather is being predicted and flooding is possible along stretches of rivers in Snohomish County late Sunday and Monday.

There’s even a chance of snow in the lowlands, more likely closer to the mountains, on Monday.

A cold front is expected to follow by Monday night and continue well into the week.

Heavy rain is forecast in the mountains Sunday, creating hazardous travel conditions over the passes and raising the risk of lowland flooding, especially on rivers flowing off of the central Cascades.

“The threat of heavy snow in the passes has diminished, although it is still possible late Sunday night,” the National Weather Service in Seattle wrote Saturday. “We could also see some lowland snow Monday afternoon and evening if the ingredients all come together.”

Up to six inches of rain was being forecast in the Central Cascade Mountains through Sunday night

The heavy rainfall, in turn, was expected to cause area rivers to rise.

The National Weather Service on Saturday issued a flood watch for the area, meaning conditions were favorable for minor to moderate flooding, but nothing was imminent.

People should monitor weather reports for the Stillaguamish, Skykomish and Snohomish rivers in the event a flood warning is issued, meteorologist Josh Smith said Saturday.

Heavy rain also could leave ponds on roadways.

The wet roadways later could turn icy as temperatures plummet.

“There’s going to be highs below freezing for a lot of next week,” Smith said.

High temperatures in Everett are expected to reach 31 on Tuesday and 30 on Wednesday. The projected low in Everett for both days is 22 degrees.

In some parts of Snohomish County, temperatures are expected to drop into the teens.